JUPITER, Fla. - For the first time in several years, a true competition is taking place this spring to determine the Cardinals’ backup catcher.
Since former catcher Mike Matheny - now in his first year as manager - left after the 2004 season, the Cardinals have made it a habit of signing veteran backstops to serve as Yadier Molina’s backup.
But that string changed this offseason when the Cardinals instead decided that their internal duo of Tony Cruz and Bryan Anderson and the addition of minor league free agent Koyie Hill would provide enough depth to find a backup for Molina.
"Every year I’ve been here they’ve had a one year guy that’s kind of had that backup job going into spring," Anderson said. "This year we’re all kind of in the same boat so it’s definitely a competition. The better man will come out on top."
Following Molina’s rise to starter when Matheny left for the Giants after the 2004 season, the Cardinals have gone seven consecutive years with a defensive-minded, veteran catcher as their backup.
Einar Diaz served as the backup in 2005, Gary Bennett from 2006-2007, Jason LaRue from 2008-2010 and Gerald Laird last year.
The Cardinals will first have to decide whether they want to go young or old. Both Cruz and Anderson are younger internal options while Hill brings eight years of big league experience from the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Cubs.
Cruz appears to be the front-runner after playing in 38 games for the Cardinals last summer and making a favorable impression when backup Gerald Laird went down with a broken finger.
Anderson was once regarded as one of top prospects in the Cardinals system but has yet to develop into the player most thought he would be. His only big league action came in 2010 when he played 15 games and hit .281.
"The backup catcher needs to come in here and show these guys that it’s not about him, it’s not about the stats," Matheny said. "He’s going to get a shot maybe once out of every five or six days depending on how Yadi is feeling and how we go about using him this year.
"The pitchers need to feel very comfortable that this is a catcher that has been paying real close attention so if their start falls on the day when he gets get to catch, that he’s going to be prepared and will understand what they have and what they need and what the person is going to do."
Cruz hit .262 (17-65) with the Cardinals after coming up in late May. He saw most of his action behind the plate but also saw a few innings at third base, first base, second base and in right field.
Knowing he would have a chance to compete for a spot on the big league roster this spring, Cruz lost about 15 pounds over the winter and arrived at camp looking much slimmer than last year.
"Healthy competition is always good," Cruz said. "We re always trying to push each other and yea, the fact that we know its going to be one of us, it’s a good competition and we’re all going to push each other.
"Obviously when you get more experience it’s always better but in spring training, everybody knows you are fighting for a job so you just try to go out there and work hard."
Hill was a surprise signing by the Cardinals last month, adding an extra body to the mix who has plenty of experience in the National League Central Division. Hill played the last five seasons with the Chicago Cubs, serving as the primary backup catcher the past three years.
Known as more of a defensive catcher, Hill has a career .211 batting average and eight home runs in 302 games since he broke into the big leagues in 2003. He’ll turn 33 on March 9.
"I’m going to do my job and let them make those decisions, not me," Hill said. "I think you compete with yourself. You try to be as good as you can be and the rest of it kind of plays out.
"I like to pride myself on getting the most out of the guy that’s on the mound that day. It’s my job to make him feel like he’s the most important person on the planet when he’s out there. I feel like I’ve developed into this role and I’m happy to do it."
Anderson, 25, enters his sixth big league camp, but his first with a true shot at being the backup catcher. With a better shot unlikely to come anytime soon, some are calling this a make-or-break camp for the once highly-touted prospect.
And a change in manager certainly won’t hurt his chances.
"I’m just going to do what I do every year and I think this year just stay within myself and get to know the guys a little better and see what happens at the end," Anderson said. "I look at it as every year I try to take advantage of big league camp. It’s an honor to be here and a great privilege so every year you try to come in and make an impression and this year it looks like I have a pretty fair chance of competing for the job."
The Cardinals don’t have a lot of position battles this spring, but backup catcher is certainly one of them. And though they’ve only been in camp a few days, the competition appears to be heating up.
